Operation on dd2's mouth - that bit of skin that connects the top lip to the gum...

[fryalot]

Dd2 (4.8) been to dentist today and we mentioned that her gum is a bit sore, he said that that bit of skin that attaches the top lip to the gum (if you put your tongue up between your two front teeth, you'll feel it) is too low down, it attaches right above her teeth (when you're feeling with your tongue, you'll feel that it's quite high up on you and really close to being as high as you can go with your tongue) and it's catching on things when she eats/cleans her teeth.

He said that she may need an operation to cut it.

Now I'm not scared of dentists in general, but mine is a bit of a butcher speed merchant and I'm not at all happy about him cutting any bit of her!

Has anyone got any experience of this?

Is it fairly common?

Will she deffo need an op?

Will it hurt?

Will it hurt more in the long run if she doesn't have it done?

any thoughts gratefully received,

tai

I would get her referred first - via your GP or health visitor. DS1 had his tongue tie cut at the hospital under GA (lasted seconds - whiff of gas) and was pretty much none the wiser. He was about 4.5 yrs. Orthodontist / oral consultant will be able to tell you better imo. I have nothing against dentist btw but a second opinion can't do any harm.

the dentist prob wouldn't do it himnself though would he???
i would imagine she'd be referred to someone.

fwiw though ds2 had the same problem, his was very low. a little while ago he fell down the stairs and snapped it by himself. there was quite a lot of blood but he was fairly unfazed by it!

There was talk of my dd having this done squonk - they didn't do it in the end but apparently it can also cause the two front teeth to be gappy? dd had a very big gap and had braces. So doing it now might mean less trouble with teeth later. Worth asking about as it might influence your decision.

Good point yesterday - it never occurred to me that the dentist could refer you (dur).

dentist told dp he would do it himself.

Think I'll chat with the HV about it.

Thanks for all your comments